In a historic triumph, Sri Lanka secured their first-ever T20I series victory against the West Indies, thanks to fantastic fifties from Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera. Chasing a target of 163, Sri Lanka finished strong at 166 for 1, winning by nine wickets with 12 balls to spare.
West Indies managed to recover from a shaky start, posting 162 for 8, with key contributions from Rovman Powell (37) and Gudakesh Motie, who smashed 32 off 15 deliveries. Despite Motie’s explosive finish, Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana’s economical 2 for 19, largely contained the West Indies batting lineup on a spin-friendly pitch.
Sri Lanka began their chase aggressively, with Pathum Nissanka blazing 39 runs off just 22 balls. Mendis (68 off 50) and Perera (55 off 36) then formed a commanding partnership of 106 runs, solidifying Sri Lanka's dominance. Nissanka's brisk start laid the foundation for the chase, while Mendis and Perera maintained the momentum throughout.
The victory not only marks a resurgence for Sri Lankan cricket, which has struggled in T20I formats in recent years, but also augments the reputation of new coach Sanath Jayasuriya. West Indies had their chances to disrupt the chase, including dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities, but Sri Lanka's performance was clinical from start to finish, highlighting their growing confidence in white-ball cricket.